Readers who are following the Edinburgh Accies development plans in Stockbridge may be interested in this article:
http://www.informededinburgh.co.uk/business/edinburgh-accies-raeburn-place-your-questions-answered/
Thanks to NEN Board member Ann Confrey who provided the link
Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) has come through a tough year, and it would have been no surprise to have found staff and board feeling a bit down at their recent annual general meeting. That wasn’t the case, however, and a steady succession of staff and volunteers took turns to highlight some of the exciting initiatives they have planned for the year ahead.
PCHP is one of North Edinburgh’s oldest community organisations. Set up originally as The Health Hut, the project celebrated it’s 25th anniversary in 2010. Like all community projects PCHP has had it’s share of ups and downs over the years but there’s no doubt that last year was one of the toughest of them all.
Chairperson Irene Garden told the annual general meeting on 26 June: “As in previous years we were faced with severe cuts, so we have had to say goodbye to the Barri Grubb shop, with four redundancies. That was a very sad time for us all, and other, much-valued staff have also had to leave because their funding was not renewed. Our former manager Dave Hewitt left at Christmas, so we have lost a lot of good colleagues; familiar faces that were popular and well-known in the community”.
However Irene went on to highlight some of the project’s successes. “There is still a lot to be positive about – among other things we have recruited a new worker to do some research for Barri Grubb, the Muirhouse Million Steps project (pictured below) was both original and very successful and our school counselling sessions have been very well received. Women Supporting Women continues to offer excellent one to one support and we are delighted that waiting lists are now coming down and that people in our community are getting counselling when they need it. Thanks to our brilliant volunteers our Befriending Service is also going from strength to strength – and volunteers are the backbone of the very successful Walking Project too”.
Manager Jen Richards (pictured below) told the meeting: “I have already spent two and a half years here in different roles and I am very passionate about keeping our services going – Pilton Community Health Project has been part of this community for 27 years and I’d love to think we can be here for another twenty-seven”.
Jen said her priorities over the coming months will be to raise the project’s profile, maximising funding by looking at new income generation streams and developing and building new and existing partnerships.
“There have been a lot of changes and I’m very grateful to very talented and totally dedicated we have here – I really value their support in a very challenging environment. Yes, it is challenging but I’m sure we’ll come out smiling at the other end!”
Local councillor Cammy Day then conducted election business before the staff team gave updates on both what’s been happening and what’s going to be happening this year. And there’s an awful lot to look forward to at PCHP …
Community Healthy Lifestyles Project’s Motivate to Move and Muirhouse Million Steps 2012, Use Your Loaf – a bread baking class that will be taking place at North Edinburgh Arts Centre, a major consultation into men’s health to find the gaps in current service provision. Then there are plans to develop the popular walking programme, the possible development of a Zumba class in Stockbridge as a social enterprise, continuing to meet the needs for counselling services. The recently launched SOURCE information room will be developed and good news about Barri Grubb, too – Barri’s no’ deid at a’! While the shop is no more, the service has been restructured and Barri Grubb will be relaunched – maybe with a name change – in the near future. In the meantime summer events are planned; a community food map, more partnership working and the Food for Thought forum will be expanded …
That’s quite a catalogue – check out Pilton Community Health Project’s website at www.pchp.org.uk for more information.
Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) has come through a tough year, and it would have been no surprise to have found staff and board feeling a bit down at their recent annual general meeting. That wasn’t the case, however, and a steady succession of staff and volunteers took turns to highlight some of the exciting initiatives they have planned for the year ahead.
PCHP is one of North Edinburgh’s oldest community organisations. Set up originally as The Health Hut, the project celebrated it’s 25th anniversary in 2010. Like all community projects PCHP has had it’s share of ups and downs over the years but there’s no doubt that last year was one of the toughest of them all.
Chairperson Irene Garden told the annual general meeting on 26 June: “As in previous years we were faced with severe cuts, so we have had to say goodbye to the Barri Grubb shop, with four redundancies. That was a very sad time for us all, and other, much-valued staff have also had to leave because their funding was not renewed. Our former manager Dave Hewitt left at Christmas, so we have lost a lot of good colleagues; familiar faces that were popular and well-known in the community”.
However Irene went on to highlight some of the project’s successes. “There is still a lot to be positive about – among other things we have recruited a new worker to do some research for Barri Grubb, the Muirhouse Million Steps project (pictured below) was both original and very successful and our school counselling sessions have been very well received. Women Supporting Women continues to offer excellent one to one support and we are delighted that waiting lists are now coming down and that people in our community are getting counselling when they need it. Thanks to our brilliant volunteers our Befriending Service is also going from strength to strength – and volunteers are the backbone of the very successful Walking Project too”.
Manager Jen Richards (pictured below) told the meeting: “I have already spent two and a half years here in different roles and I am very passionate about keeping our services going – Pilton Community Health Project has been part of this community for 27 years and I’d love to think we can be here for another twenty-seven”.
Jen said her priorities over the coming months will be to raise the project’s profile, maximising funding by looking at new income generation streams and developing and building new and existing partnerships.
“There have been a lot of changes and I’m very grateful to very talented and totally dedicated we have here – I really value their support in a very challenging environment. Yes, it is challenging but I’m sure we’ll come out smiling at the other end!”
Local councillor Cammy Day then conducted election business before the staff team gave updates on both what’s been happening and what’s going to be happening this year. And there’s an awful lot to look forward to at PCHP …
Community Healthy Lifestyles Project’s Motivate to Move and Muirhouse Million Steps 2012, Use Your Loaf – a bread baking class that will be taking place at North Edinburgh Arts Centre, a major consultation into men’s health to find the gaps in current service provision. Then there are plans to develop the popular walking programme, the possible development of a Zumba class in Stockbridge as a social enterprise, continuing to meet the needs for counselling services. The recently launched SOURCE information room will be developed and good news about Barri Grubb, too – Barri’s no’ deid at a’! While the shop is no more, the service has been restructured and Barri Grubb will be relaunched – maybe with a name change – in the near future. In the meantime summer events are planned; a community food map, more partnership working and the Food for Thought forum will be expanded …
That’s quite a catalogue – check out Pilton Community Health Project’s website at www.pchp.org.uk for more information.
The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:
Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm
West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day
West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.
Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm
PEP Summer Fayre
West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.
Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm
Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb
Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.
Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm
Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!
Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm
Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club
Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.
Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm
Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden
Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.
Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm
Granton Community Gardens Barbecue
Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!
Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm
Trip to Craigies Farm
Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.
The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:
Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm
West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day
West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.
Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm
PEP Summer Fayre
West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.
Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm
Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb
Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.
Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm
Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!
Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm
Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club
Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.
Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm
Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden
Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.
Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm
Granton Community Gardens Barbecue
Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!
Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm
Trip to Craigies Farm
Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.
Housing convener Cammy Day said he was delighted to see that Edinburgh’s housing strategy is receiving recognition following two industry awards last month. Two Council-funded projects by Dunedin Canmore Housing Association picked up top awards last month – a development of new affordable homes and environmental improvements at homes for older people.
The Council also received praise for the way it deals with the planning aspects of affordable housing and for two separate schemes that help homeless people with private rented accommodation. Further recognition was received for Dunedin Canmore’s Springfield development, which was awarded ‘apartment of the year’ and had financial backing from the Council.
Forth councillor Cammy Day, the city’s housing leader, said: “I’m really pleased to see that Edinburgh’s strategy is now starting to receive the recognition it deserves, and much of the credit should go to the excellent partnership between Council staff, housing associations and private developers. Affordable housing is a huge priority for us, as we need around 16,000 new homes over the next 10 years. On average, 130 households bid for every affordable home that becomes available for let by the Council or a housing association.”
He went on: “Meanwhile, Edinburgh is still growing and house prices remain high. There is much to be proud of, as these awards show, but there is still a lot of work to do. That’s why our ‘contract with the capital’ includes several pledges on housing, including development on brownfield sites, pressing the Government to release more funds for rented homes, and bringing empty homes into use.”
In 2011/12 the Council approved 1,500 affordable homes for work to begin on site, adding to the 1,300 already under construction. Affordable housing development in Edinburgh will generate £296 million in investment and support around 2,000 jobs in construction & related industries.
The details of the short-listed and award-winning initiatives are:
Scottish Home Awards
– Dunedin Canmore Housing Association (a key strategic partner of the Council) won a “Large Affordable Housing Development of the Year” award for its development of 190 affordable homes at Westfield, Edinburgh. This is the largest affordable housing project ever supported by the Council. The total development cost was £22.4m which includes £11m in grant funding and £11.4m in private finance raised by the housing association.
– Dunedin Canmore received a further Scottish Home award for environmental excellence at its “Quarries” development in South Edinburgh. This development of 58 homes for older people was developed on a previously contaminated Council site in a regeneration area. All flats are wheelchair adaptable and designed to a high building standard and are adaptable to the needs of the tenants. It features a secure central courtyard garden with private drying areas, raised allotment planters, exercise equipment, sensory planting, trees, shrubs and a wildlife pond. The building is designed to be highly energy-efficient which will enable the heating and power costs for tenants to be kept to a minimum.
– The Council was short listed for a national award for Quality in Planning for its approach to delivery of affordable housing. The Council’s joined-up and flexible approach has seen affordable housing become the catalyst for construction. Developers have been able to secure their planning permissions and keep their workforce building through the downturn, whilst delivering much-needed affordable homes.
– Springfield Properties won Apartment of the Year award for Brunstane Court. The Council supported this project through the provision of a rental guarantee to Dunedin Canmore Housing Association. This meant that Dunedin Canmore was able to enter into a contract with Springfield to purchase some of the homes. This helped Dunedin Canmore and Springfield to secure private funding to build the homes.
UK Housing awards
The Council-commissioned Letfirst scheme, run by Orchard and Shipman, won the innovation of the year award at the UK Housing Awards 2012. Letfirst helps those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to move into accommodation in the private rented sector. The contract was tendered by the council in 2008 and has been run by Orchard and Shipman since then.The Council and Link Group Limited were finalists in the Partnership of the Year category for the Private Sector Leasing scheme which provides accommodation for homeless households.
The Scottish Home Awards took place on 28 June and the UK Housing Awards took place on 27 June.
Inverleith councillor Gavin Barrie has urged private tenants to ensure that their landlord is properly registered following the removal of a landlord from the register last month – the first time this power has been used in Edinburgh.
Evidence was heard at the City of Edinburgh Council’s Regulatory Committee on 22 June where Yousef Mohammed’s application to operate a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at a flat in the south of the city was refused. In addition his name was removed from the landlord register when Councillors decided he did not meet the fit and proper person criteria. The result is that Mr Mohammed can no longer operate as a residential landlord in Edinburgh.
Councillors heard evidence that Mr Mohammed had failed to adequately tell them about his criminal convictions and defied previous decisions of the Council where he continued to rent out HMO properties whilst not holding a licence.
Inverleith Councillor Gavin Barrie, Convenor of the Regulatory Committee, said: “Edinburgh is open for all landlords who manage their properties and ensure that they are in good condition and that tenants can be safe and secure. However, for those who don’t, the Council will take firm action. I would encourage everyone seeking to rent privately to check the landlord register to ensure that their prospective landlord is registered.”
‘Flaming’ June was officially the dullest and wettest since records began back in 1910 – and it looks like July’s going to be no great shakes either. It’s miserable.
So to try to cheer everyone up and give us all a much-needed boost, how’s about sending in some of your favourite summer holiday snaps to share with our readers – the sunnier the better!
Email your sunshine snaps to northedinnews@gmail.com and we’ll post them on the blog to remind NEN readers what the sun looks like! Here are a few to get you started …
A local adventure play project designed for children with additional support needs is to benefit from an innovative partnership with Edinburgh home emergency firm, First Call Home Assist.
The Yard, based at Eyre Place Lane in Stockbridge, aims to improve the lives of children and young people with learning difficulties while also providing support to their siblings, parents and others responsible for their care.
The partnership is the latest effort by First Call Home Assist to cement its strong commitment to helping the local community and with every sale of a home emergency policy made through a dedicated link on The Yard’s website, 15% of the monthly fee will go to this fantastic cause.
Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive of The Yard, said: “We are delighted to be part of First Call’s community partnership scheme. All the money we raise through this new initiative will go towards improving the quality of service we can provide for the 1,500 young people who use our centre regularly.”
Just over ten per cent of the funding received by The Yard comes from the City of Edinburgh Council and all its other income is raised through approaches to Trusts, Foundations and private companies, which means that 90 per cent of funding needs need to be sourced by the service itself.
First Call chose to help The Yard after their managing director, Paul Greaves (pictured below), witnessed first hand the fantastic care they provide for his niece Cissie who regularly attends the centre.
Paul said: “My niece Cissie was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at the age of six and she can be unpredictable, inflexible and anti-social. At the yard these difficulties are met with understanding, support and often a much needed sense of humour! The Yard is an amazing service which our family, and many others, rely upon heavily. It is the only place where we can truly relax, free of anxieties and of judgement from others; somewhere we don’t have to explain or defend our child. The Yard also acknowledges the tough position that siblings of children with additional support needs are in, and it is as much a service for them as it is for others.”
Services offered by The Yard include open play family sessions, holiday play sessions, free play and curriculum linked sessions for special schools. The venue is also used for a variety of youth clubs and training courses designed to teach others about the principles of inclusive play.
For more information about The Yard, telephone 476 4506 or email susans@theyardscotland.org.uk. You can also visit their website at www.theyardscotland.org.uk
Edinburgh Theatre Arts is to perform a Scots version of MacBeth at the heart of William Shakespeare country. The amateur group, which is based at St Ninian’s Hall in Comely Bank, have been invited by the world famous Royal Shakespeare Company to perform their version of ‘the Scottish play’ at Stratford’s Courtyard Theatre next week.
Edinburgh Theatre Arts are one of only 10 from across the UK – and the only Scottish company – to be selected to take to the stage alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). They will take to the stage with their version of Macbeth, which is performed entirely in Scots, on 14 July.
Edinburgh Theatre Art’s director Mike Duffy said it was a great honour.
“They don’t normally have amateur companies using their theatres, so it’s a unique opportunity for an amateur company to get onto one of their main stages”, he said. “It’s like Scotland are playing England at Wembley! For an amateur company to go to a main Shakespeare theatre, with all the kudos of the RSC, everybody has to raise their game.”
IT worker Danny Faramond is playing the title role, and he told the BBC he is delighted to have the chance to perform in the heart of Shakespeare country. He said: “It’s a very challenging role, there’s an enormous range of emotion required, it’s a very long involved role. You’re on stage for a lot of the time, physically quite demanding, quite an arc is required from the initial quite muted character to the, sort of, insanity at the end, so a big range is required. The more you realise what great actors have done it, the more you realise it’s quite a challenge.”
Edith Piers, who is playing the role of Gruoch, the Scottish equivalent of Lady MacBeth, added: “I’m so excited about it, I don’t at the present moment feel nervous, just really, really looking forward to it. It’s a huge opportunity and I think it will raise the profile, hopefully, of amateur theatre and lose the “am dram” tag that tends to accompany amateur theatre.”
